Source-backed decision research

Explore how AAO evaluates evidence.

Search a substantial collection of case-specific reasoning, then narrow it by petition, field, legal issue, or date.

This expanded collection favors source-backed access over perfect automated classification. Fields, labels, summaries, and relevance may contain errors; records marked ‘broader context’ need extra care. Review the cited source before relying on any record. These appeals and motions do not show approval odds or denial rates, and are not legal advice or a prediction.

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10,847 decisions / 36,849 findings

Showing 9891–9900

NIWexceptional ability otherNot establishedAutomated extraction · broader context

Case facts

Computer Science / AI

Issue evaluated

exceptional ability other

membership in professional associations (criterion E)

Why AAO was not persuaded

Because the petitioner provided no information about what the registration entity is, it could not be established that it is a professional association.

Why this is useful

Use the reasoning to identify the specific factual or documentary gap AAO considered material.

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Because the petitioner provided no information about what the registration entity is, it could not be established that it is a professional association.
Exact record locator: findings_long.parquet filename_stem=2022-08-23_06_B5203; source_row=29836
Revision: 081d2cac29dcadfec88fdd675d7a0c4294d72b3c
Open source dataset ↗
NIWexceptional ability otherNot establishedAutomated extraction · broader context

Case facts

Computer Science / AI

Issue evaluated

exceptional ability other

salary or remuneration demonstrating exceptional ability (criterion D)

Why AAO was not persuaded

The petitioner submitted no evidence for this criterion.

Why this is useful

Use the reasoning to identify the specific factual or documentary gap AAO considered material.

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The petitioner submitted no evidence for this criterion.
Exact record locator: findings_long.parquet filename_stem=2022-08-23_06_B5203; source_row=29835
Revision: 081d2cac29dcadfec88fdd675d7a0c4294d72b3c
Open source dataset ↗
NIWexceptional ability otherNot establishedAutomated extraction · broader context

Case facts

Computer Science / AI

Issue evaluated

exceptional ability other

letters from employer(s) showing at least ten years full-time experience (criterion B)

Why AAO was not persuaded

For the same reasons as the advanced degree analysis, the employment evidence lacked sufficient detail and independent corroboration. The letters did not adequately document progressively responsible experience in computer engineering.

Why this is useful

Use the reasoning to identify the specific factual or documentary gap AAO considered material.

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For the same reasons as the advanced degree analysis, the employment evidence lacked sufficient detail and independent corroboration. The letters did not adequately document progressively responsible experience in computer engineering.
Exact record locator: findings_long.parquet filename_stem=2022-08-23_06_B5203; source_row=29833
Revision: 081d2cac29dcadfec88fdd675d7a0c4294d72b3c
Open source dataset ↗
NIWexceptional ability otherEstablishedAutomated extraction · broader context

Case facts

Computer Science / AI

Issue evaluated

exceptional ability other

official academic record showing degree/diploma/certificate (criterion A)

Why the evidence was persuasive

Although the petitioner did not establish that her coursework equated to a U.S. bachelor's degree, the evidence supports a finding that a college or university issued her a title of computer engineering, satisfying this criterion.

Why this is useful

Use the reasoning to identify the specific factual or documentary gap AAO considered material.

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Although the petitioner did not establish that her coursework equated to a U.S. bachelor's degree, the evidence supports a finding that a college or university issued her a title of computer engineering, satisfying this criterion.
Exact record locator: findings_long.parquet filename_stem=2022-08-23_06_B5203; source_row=29832
Revision: 081d2cac29dcadfec88fdd675d7a0c4294d72b3c
Open source dataset ↗
NIWotherNot establishedAutomated extraction · broader context

Case facts

Other

Issue evaluated

other

Whether the labor certification requires at least an advanced degree (master's, or bachelor's plus 5 years progressive experience)

Why AAO was not persuaded

AAO applied the plain language of the labor certification and concluded that the added 'in lieu of' phrase, combined with 'and/or', went beyond Kellogg and permitted combinations falling below the advanced-degree minimum.

Why this is useful

Use the reasoning to identify the specific factual or documentary gap AAO considered material.

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AAO applied the plain language of the labor certification and concluded that the added 'in lieu of' phrase, combined with 'and/or', went beyond Kellogg and permitted combinations falling below the advanced-degree minimum.
Exact record locator: findings_long.parquet filename_stem=2022-08-23_03_B5203; source_row=29821
Revision: 081d2cac29dcadfec88fdd675d7a0c4294d72b3c
Open source dataset ↗
NIWotherNot establishedAutomated extraction · broader context

Case facts

Other

Issue evaluated

other

Inconsistencies in beneficiary's claimed education and experience

Why AAO was not persuaded

AAO identified unresolved material inconsistencies between the equivalency evaluation, degree, transcripts, and employer letters, but did not adjudicate the issue dispositively; it flagged the discrepancies for any future filings.

Why this is useful

Use the reasoning to identify the specific factual or documentary gap AAO considered material.

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AAO identified unresolved material inconsistencies between the equivalency evaluation, degree, transcripts, and employer letters, but did not adjudicate the issue dispositively; it flagged the discrepancies for any future filings.
Exact record locator: findings_long.parquet filename_stem=2022-08-23_03_B5203; source_row=29822
Revision: 081d2cac29dcadfec88fdd675d7a0c4294d72b3c
Open source dataset ↗
NIWNIW · National importanceNot established

Case facts

Civil / Structural Engineering

Issue evaluated

NIW · National importance

substantial merit and national importance

Why AAO was not persuaded

AAO agreed the Petitioner conflated the importance of the roads and highways industry with the national importance of his specific endeavor. The professor's letter post-dated the filing and described a future project, so it could not establish eligibility. The evidence about employing 21–29 workers at an unspecified location did not show broader national economic impact.…

Why this is useful

Compare how the decision separates a broadly important field from the prospective impact of the applicant’s specific work.

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AAO agreed the Petitioner conflated the importance of the roads and highways industry with the national importance of his specific endeavor. The professor's letter post-dated the filing and described a future project, so it could not establish eligibility. The evidence about employing 21–29 workers at an unspecified location did not show broader national economic impact. General statements about small businesses did not address the specific proposed endeavor.
Exact record locator: findings_long.parquet filename_stem=2022-08-22_02_B5203; source_row=29797
Revision: 081d2cac29dcadfec88fdd675d7a0c4294d72b3c
Open source dataset ↗
EB-1AEB-1A · High remunerationNot established

Case facts

Medicine / ClinicalProfessor

Issue evaluated

EB-1A · High remuneration

high remuneration

Why AAO was not persuaded

Third-party salary data was divergent and inconsistent, with Ziprecruiter showing ranges from $24,266 to $409,473. Institutional salary data was not shown to be representative of the field, and the comparison was further complicated by salaries being divided among different responsibilities, making it unclear how the Petitioner's salary breakdown compared to peers.

Why this is useful

Use the reasoning to identify the specific factual or documentary gap AAO considered material.

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Third-party salary data was divergent and inconsistent, with Ziprecruiter showing ranges from $24,266 to $409,473. Institutional salary data was not shown to be representative of the field, and the comparison was further complicated by salaries being divided among different responsibilities, making it unclear how the Petitioner's salary breakdown compared to peers.
Exact record locator: findings_long.parquet filename_stem=2022-08-22_01_B2203; source_row=29792
Revision: 081d2cac29dcadfec88fdd675d7a0c4294d72b3c
Open source dataset ↗
EB-1AEB-1A · Original contributionsNot established

Case facts

Medicine / ClinicalProfessor

Issue evaluated

EB-1A · Original contributions

original contributions of major significance

Why AAO was not persuaded

Altmetric profiles did not rank work against the same field; social media coverage and online news articles did not show major significance. Expert letters largely paraphrased article abstracts without explaining major significance, and several letters contained nearly identical language suggesting common authorship, undermining their probative value.…

Why this is useful

Distinguish original work from evidence that the contribution had major significance across the field.

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Altmetric profiles did not rank work against the same field; social media coverage and online news articles did not show major significance. Expert letters largely paraphrased article abstracts without explaining major significance, and several letters contained nearly identical language suggesting common authorship, undermining their probative value. The Petitioner failed to show that his contributions actually impacted the field.
Exact record locator: findings_long.parquet filename_stem=2022-08-22_01_B2203; source_row=29789
Revision: 081d2cac29dcadfec88fdd675d7a0c4294d72b3c
Open source dataset ↗
EB-1AEB-1A · Final meritsNot established

Case facts

Medicine / ClinicalProfessor

Issue evaluated

EB-1A · Final merits

final merits determination

Why AAO was not persuaded

AAO conducted an advisory final merits review despite the Petitioner not meeting the step-1 threshold, finding the record does not show sustained national or international acclaim or that the Petitioner is among the small percentage at the very top of the field.

Why this is useful

Use the reasoning to identify the specific factual or documentary gap AAO considered material.

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AAO conducted an advisory final merits review despite the Petitioner not meeting the step-1 threshold, finding the record does not show sustained national or international acclaim or that the Petitioner is among the small percentage at the very top of the field.
Exact record locator: findings_long.parquet filename_stem=2022-08-22_01_B2203; source_row=29793
Revision: 081d2cac29dcadfec88fdd675d7a0c4294d72b3c
Open source dataset ↗
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